One of the good things of being an entrepreneur and networking is that we can learn so much from each other’s experiences. This interview will walk you through the ways to start and grow a business from the point of view of a woman who also raised a family at the same time. Kristina Kossi talked to us about her experience, opening the Zinc Bar in partnership with her brother, finding the right place, creating a concept and a style, being a single mother and working unconventional hours. Kristina is certainly a role model to many women who want to open their own businesses at home or outside in any profession, raise a family and enjoy every moment.
Kristina Kossi
Starting a Business
Kristina and her brother Alex realized they would like to open a business together. She had been working full time at Estee Lauder for Clinique for several years as a consumer marketing professional, and always liked to figure out how to generate more businesses. Wondering how to do it for themselves, they first considered opening a place similar to Dean & Deluca and later a coffee bar. In their search to find a place, they found a location they realized would make a great bar. Opening a bar, Zinc Bar, became the new business concept.
While considering the name of the bar, Kristina remembered when she was in Paris and noticed that all bars had zinc tops. In addition, reading Ernest Hemingway, who would tell his friends to meet at the Zinc, which meant “at the bar” Kristina thought Zinc Bar would be perfect in representing Hemingway’s gathering place.
Spicing it up a little
At the start the business was slow, so they decided to add music to spice it up, and it has been a success for almost ten years. They started with a jazz trio, and not so long afterward they hired a Brazilian Jazz Band who joined the Zinc Bar and stayed for almost three years. Today they have Latin, Cuban, Brazilian, and African music, and Zinc Bar is considered THE music place. On weekends it has been presenting Brazilian Jazz for at least 8 years. The Zinc Bar has both regular clients of various nationalities, and tourists. The shows start late at night, and musicians from Harlem go there to enjoy the last show of Jazz, which starts at 2:00am. Although the owners do not advertise, they have write ups in several magazines, and the music gets a lot of publicity.
Balancing work and family
Kristina and Alex focused on being able to make their own choices and they have realized this goal. They have a good relationship, help each other and make business decisions together. Besides, their family has always been supportive.
Kristina’s work experience was not in running bars. However, growing up in New York City and going to bars and nightclubs helped her to start and envision a formula of success with Alex. When asked about the change from a 9-5 full time job to a demanding schedule of working nights, Kristina replied, “It was like freedom”. As a kid, she remembers that her mother would go out in the middle of the night to Carnegie Hall and take Kristina along, highlighting that they have always been night people.
In the early days, as in the majority of small business start-ups, Kristina and Alex would do everything, from sweeping the floor, to bartending and watching the door. Kristina loved being a bartender but when she got pregnant it became too much and by then they had started hiring more people. Kristina has two sons, ages 6 and 8, and when her first child was born she took care of the bar’s daytime activities. As she missed being a part of the business while it operated at night, she would bartend on Mondays, but it was very tiring. After the second child was born, Kristina did not bartend and today she and her brother split nights at the Zinc Bar, to make sure the place is running smoothly. Although she works late, she is home when her children come from school and can spend quality time with them, before going to work.
Woman-owned bar and music club
As a woman running a bar and music club, in the beginning Kristina had to work hard to prove her point, that she is a co-owner of a bar and music club. She would not back down until the employees understood that she was also the boss.
This is sometimes also a challenge with customers. She’s had male customers who were drunk and did not respond well to a woman asking him to take it easy on the drinks and mentioning that he is being a problem. Kristina now delegates this responsibility to her doorman, which seems to lessen any negative reactions.
On the positive side, the Zinc Bar has a touch and sense of style from a female perspective, balanced with her brother ideas, to make it a perfect combination that we cannot find in man only owned bars and nightclubs. Kristina and Alex’s goal for the Zinc as a bar, to have a beautiful place with personal touches, led them to include one of a kind original hand picked art, and a sensual fabric on parts of the ceiling and doorways. Their goal for the Zinc as a music club was for people to enjoy seriously good but fun music and be comfortable. Alex picks all the bands, and both Kristina and Alex have a good relationship with all the musicians.
In addition, although nowadays they have managers and a full staff, according to Kristina, spending time making sure the customers are happy, the staff is performing professionally, and the music sounds right is vital to the longevity and image of the Zinc Bar.
Plans for the future
Alex and Kristina original plan was to open one place after the other, but their plans were put off in order for them to have children (Alex is the father of two children). A couple of months ago they opened a cocktail bar with more partners called Flatiron Lounge, and it has been a success. They were able to involve talented partners who are onsite working as managers and bartenders. Kristina and Alex divide their time between both places. With both businesses working well, they are already looking for new locations, for a Brazilian place, which might be their next venture.
Advice
Even though some business owners think about their businesses 24/7, Kristina argues that it is very important to have fun; get a facial once in a while, and if you are angry with someone or something, go blow some steam off, go work out or wear it off. The main idea is not to carry it around with you and not to bring it home or to work.
Kristina offers the following advice to the entrepreneurial woman: “It can be done, it is hard, but it can be done.” She acknowledges that it is hard to make a decision to have children, and keep up with one’s career plans. However, Kristina shows us that with discipline and will it is possible to accomplish balance: one can be a caring mother, run a business and still have fun, look good and feel good.